Beautiful dolls a reminder of the ugly truth about domestic violence

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March 15, 2016

Beautiful dolls a reminder of the ugly truth about domestic violence.

Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) CEO and Access Community Services Limited (Access) board member, Elena Gosse gave up playing with dolls a long time ago but the hand-painted dolls she, and artist Ludmila Lyubushkina presented to Shannon Fentiman MP (Member for Waterford, Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Child Safety and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence) on Friday 11 March symbolised an important message.On Fri 11 March Elena will join Access Community Services’ International Women’s Week Community Lunch to be held in conjunction with the SEQ CALD Family & Domestic Violence Summit. Elena is a proud board member of Access and through her involvement with Dancing CEOs is standing up to protect women and their children from family and domestic violence.On Fri 11 March Elena will join Access Community Services’ International Women’s Week Community Lunch to be held in conjunction with the SEQ CALD Family & Domestic Violence Summit. Elena is a proud board member of Access and through her involvement with Dancing CEOs is standing up to protect women and their children from family and domestic violence.

Ms Lyubushkina was invited by Ms Gosse to Access’ International Women’s Week Community Lunch as part of the successful Brisbane businesswoman’s participation in Dancing CEOs. Ms Gosse is one of 12 CEOs swapping the boardroom for the dance floor on April 15 to raise awareness and funds for Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ). WLSQ provides free legal and welfare assistance to women and children affected by domestic and family violence.

Ms Lyubushkina’s artistic efforts depict women of different nationalities represented as traditional Russian Matryoshka dolls (Russian Nesting Dolls). They show that domestic violence is a worldwide issue and can affect people of any cultural background.

“As beautiful as these dolls are, sadly they represent the very ugly truth about domestic violence in our communities, Ms Gosse said.

“The smallest doll, the child, reminds us that children are often the forgotten victims of domestic violence. The short and long term effects of witnessing violence subjected on those they love can be devastating.”

Ms Gosse who runs a successful Brisbane based water disinfection and chlorinator manufacturing company is of Russian Heritage and has been living in Australia with her husband and two daughters for over 25 years.

As part of her Dancing CEO fundraising efforts 10 sets of Matryoshka dolls were painted by female members of the Russian and Australian community. A selection of the dolls will be auctioned as part of Ms Gosse’s fundraising efforts with the remainder gifted to key government and domestic violence service organisations.

“The Minister was very touched by the gift and the symbolism and effort behind it, Ms Gosse said.